The 2026-27 regular season begins on Monday night for the Florida basketball program, which travels to Tampa to take on the Miami Hurricanes in the Orion180 Tipoff Classic. Ahead of the opening salvo of the 2026-27 campaign, BetMGM's latest betting odds favor the Orange and Blue by a modest amount.
Florida played a pair of exhibition games during the preseason, splitting the two between the Baylor Bears and Stetson Hatters. The former beat the Gators in overtime, 82-76, on Oct. 18 in Jacksonville, while the latter lost to the Orange and Blue on Oct. 27, 85-68, in Gainesville.
Miami played one exhibition matchup last month against the Vanderbilt Commodores, whom it defeated in Coral Gables, 109-96.
The Gators hold a firm lead over the Hurricanes
in the all-time series dating back to 1928, 47-23, and have won the last three meetings. The two Sunshine State schools met last year in Jacksonville for an early-season tangle in which UF prevailed, 82-68.
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Florida vs. Miami odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Nov. 1
- Spread: Florida by 4.5
- Over/under: 161.5
- Moneyline: +180 / -220
Florida vs. Miami predictions, picks for college basketball
Florida showed a bit of rust in its two preseason games while the 'Canes looked strong in their lone exhibition matchup. None of that matters now as these games count starting on Monday night, but there are some reasons to be hesitant in picking the Gators to win this.
However, Todd Golden can be trusted to have addressed those issues his team dealt with, and with the best frontcourt in the nation taking the floor, the chances are high that the Orange and Blue prevail in their season opener. Still, it should be a close and exciting matchup in which Florida ends up on top.
PREDICTION: Florida 88, Miami 81
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida vs. Miami predictions, picks, odds for college basketball game
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